Well, the holiday season has its own rush hour and it starts today. I'm a big fan of not waiting to the last minute, but as this year has proved to me (in spades) that it's sometimes unavoidable.

Here you'll find some tips, tricks and last minute ideas to help you get everything wrapped up so you can relax and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Advertisement

Start vacation a day early.

There is nothing worse than a last minute rush just before you've got to jump in the car or head to the airport. Starting your vacation a day early gives you that extra time you might need to tie up those loose ends.

(I realize you might have been able to make better use of this tip when you were scheduling your vacation, but, hey, there's always next year!)

Advertisement

Do your shopping during the day.

If you have any last minute shopping to do, it's best to do it during the day. Otherwise you'll have to complete with some seriously stressed and rushed crowds — not to mention all sorts of holiday traffic. Doing some daytime shopping will also give you some extra time to find that special gift that's sure to be sold out the first few places you look.

Do it yourself!

If you've not found that perfect gift and don't have time to brave the mall you might try making something yourself. It may take a bit more time, but could be quite a bit less stressful. I you're looking for DIY gift ideas, we've got a few for you.

Advertisement

The same concept can be applied to cards or other holiday greetings. If you've not done anything yet you may try setting up a holiday Web page of some kind.

Make a list...check it twice.

If you're running late it's really easy to forget something. Sit down, right now, and make a list of everything you need to do for the holiday. Keep that list with you until you're all done and it's time to relax and enjoy the season.

Advertisement

Get there early.

This one's a no brainer. If you need to get somewhere (the airport, the store, etc.) make sure you get there as early as you can. Leave early and prepare for delays as you're almost guaranteed to run into some craziness at some point.

Set aside some alone time.

This really helps me. When I'm feeling the pressure of a short timeline one of the worst things for my stress level is people bugging me. If you can get away, even for a few minutes, it can be just the thing you need to recover your energy and get back on track.

Advertisement

What're your last minute holiday tips?

Got an easy and quick gift idea? Some good time savers or planning tips? Maybe you know how to cut corners at the mall this week? Share them here!